The provocation this time was the fact that I pointed out Keith Olbermann’s fingerbang salute to Carrie Prejean. I actually took it pretty easy on KO, of whom I am a big fan. Unfortunately, some liberals require blind idolatry, even when it runs counter to actual liberalism.

I went on to critique the left’s treatment of Prejean, another big no-no in TBogg-land.

When we last saw Conservative Pet Liberal Tommy Christopher he was getting blog-killed by Big Bunny because he had the blogdacity* to go “shame shame” over Guy Cimbalo’s hatefuck article/post thingy. As it turned out, pretty much anyone who was familiar with Cimbalao’s article shared Tommy’s opinion, but the timing of AOL’s de-Tommyfying was enough to throw the wingnuts into a frenzy.

Well, they’re always in a frenzy, but it was kismet that day because the Mexicans, Muslims, and Negroes were behaving themselves. At least for for a few hours.

Now we see that Tommy has washed up on the shores of the Mediaite (I don’t know how to pronounce it either) blog which is kinda of like the crackbaby lovechild of Politico and Tiger Beat (”Who’s Hot Who’s Not!” “Win a Dream Date with Dreamylicious Jake Tapper!” etc.).

The “wingnuts” in a frenzy? Right, like The Huffington Post, or Howard Kurtz? He also displays the same class that led him to make fun of special needs children last time, tossing his barbs at crack babies here. Real nice.

He also posits that I only defend young, hot, conservative women. You know, like Kevin Jennings or Van Jones. Boing!

True, I was also fortunate enough to land a great gig with Mediaite that permits me to get out of my jammies and into the real world once in a while.

Factual lapses aside, he also goes on to miss the entire point of my post. By attacking Prejean’s tits and masturbatory habits, the left has amplified her importance well beyond what it should be, and made themselves look ugly in the process. Keith Olbermann’s (thankfully non-glistening) fingers may be worth a chuckle to some, but at what price? What average American is going to watch that and say “My, that Keith Olbermann is a clever fellow. Let me probe his views on marriage?”

TBogg says “As to his point that she has been amplified, her book sales (#846) at Amazon tell another story.” I say the problem was never that she was selling books.

Finally, before TBogg tries to accuse someone of being a “Conservative pet liberal,” maybe he should think about elevating his own editorial standards to at least equal Hannity’s. At least he admits he’s “mistaken” when somebody busts him.

12:29 [Comment From Matthew]
Who would you say is the most insightful liberal political figure or commentator out there right now? Who is a conservative political figure of commentator who you think needs to shut up?

12:30 Fred Barbash-Moderator: That’s the last question. So sorry.

12:32 Michelle Malkin: Hmmm. Interesting question. On the right: Less Meghan McCain. On the left? Tommy Christopher is an honest lib.

Whoah! AWK-ward!

Maybe it’s the hopeless bleeding heart in me, but I see an opportunity to make some magic here. Just as Meghan McCain seeks to be a bridge between her party’s old and new factions (and succeeds, to a large degree), perhaps I can be the bridge between Meghan and Michelle.

Everyone knows I have nothing but respect and admiration for Meg, especially for the great example she sets for women and girls everywhere. As for Michelle, we probably agree on one thing only, which is that she does not deserve to be called a “bitch” or to be “hate-f**ked” by Playboy’s Guy Cimbalo. It’s a sad state of affairs when our political discourse has led to the lauding of common decency.

But, since they’re both listening, let me see if we can bridge where a chasm now yawns. Let’s join hands, the 3 of us, and think about what has happened to this country in the age of polarization, and ask ourselves if we can move past it all. Now, close your eyes and chant with me, “Yes, we can!”

I was informed yesterday by the (Politics Daily) Hot Seat editor that our relationship was being terminated. Zero notice. No reason given. Nada. Gee, do ya think it could be because of the Playboy controversy – and publicly outing Melinda Henneberger for lying about her relationship to the firing of Tommy Christopher?

As of this writing, Politics Daily hasn’t explained the dismissal. I checked with other Hot Seat contributors, and none of them have been let go, although that may change if Melinda wants to cover her tracks again.

There are multiple ironies here, but chief among them is that this is an achievement of the Playboy article’s mission, to harm and marginalize conservative women. In this case, it has managed to do so to a wonderful woman who was spared inclusion on the original list.

Along with the injustice, I object to the cowardly manner in which this was done, quietly, a month after the fact.

I take comfort in knowing that, although the intent here was not benevolent, my friend Lizzy will feel less harm from this than Politics Daily will. Disagree with her as I might, it won’t be a tango without her.

On the heels of the Playboy Hate F*** List controversy, you would think political blogs would have the sense to stay away from this kind of icky itemization. Not Politico, which has released its own list of “The Hunks of Washington.” (ps Joanie Cunningham called, she wants part of that title back.)

When are men going to get the respect they deserve? Why must Peter Orszag put up with being described as “so numbersy,” or Grover Norquist as “unyielding in his vision, in his mission,” or the kicker, Chuck Todd, a ““brainy guy poring over computer printouts.” Why don’t they just stick these guys in Speedos and have them photographed washing Camaros?

Although PoliticsDaily.com, one of AOL’s daily political news suppliers, aims to offer “smart pieces from across the ideological spectrum,” it may be pandering, intentionally or not, to AOL’s increasingly conservative audience.

(To prevent confusion later in this article, for anyone new to this blog, I am a liberal, as liberal as the day is long. I’m so liberal, I made my kids form a labor union before assigning them chores.)